Daily Current Affairs – December 18 & 19, 2023
Share on facebook
Share on whatsapp
Share on twitter
Share on telegram
Share on linkedin
Share on email
Daily Current Affairs - Banking - December 18 & 19, 2023
Dear Banking Aspirants,
Prepare for the Daily Current Affairs with Veranda Race who is the pioneer in the Banking Exam Coaching. Current Affairs section is one of the important Scoring section in the Mains of many Banking Exams like SBI PO, SBI CLERK, IBPS PO, IBPS CLERK, IBPS RRB PO, IBPS RRB CLERK and multiple Insurance Exams.
Veranda Race is committed to provide Daily Current Affairs for all the days for the students who are preparing for Banking & Insurance Exams.
Check Daily for the Daily Current Affairs and also for the Quizzes to prepare for the upcoming Banking & Insurance Exams in 2023.
Download – LEGEND Monthly Current Affairs Magazine
National News
"Animal Health Conclave "(Pashu Swasthya Sammelan) in New Delhi
- Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala inaugurated the “Animal Health Conclave “(Pashu Swasthya Sammelan) in New Delhi, marked a pioneering exploration of cutting-edge vaccines and precision diagnostics in the animal health sector.
- The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying and Indian Immunological Limited (IIL) jointly organized the conclave for shaping Animal Health sector with Innovative Vaccine and Precision diagnostics.
- The conclave focused on fostering dialogue and collaboration among esteemed speakers and experts to enhance animal health.
- The technical sessions were the core of the event, featuring in-depth discussions on new vaccine technology, the decarbonization of vaccine manufacturing, AMR Management with the One Health Approach, AI applications in disease surveillance, and modern approaches to diagnostics for field deployment.
- This successful event brought together experts, policymakers, and stakeholders, charting a progressive path for the animal health sector.
- The exchange of knowledge and ideas holds promise for advancements in vaccine technology, diagnostics, and the overall well-being of animals.
- Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying – Parshottam Rupala,Union Minister (Rajya Sabha MP,Gujarat) – Sanjeev Balyan, Minister of State (Muzaffarnagar,UP), L. Murugan, Minister of State (Rajya Sabha MP,MP)
India’s maiden winter scientific Arctic expedition
- Union Minister, Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Kiren Rijiju, flagged off India’s first winter scientific expedition to the Arctic from the MoES headquarters in New Delhi.
- Indian scientific expeditions to the Arctic during the winter (November to March) will allow researchers to conduct unique scientific observations during polar nights, where there is no sunlight for nearly 24 hours and sub-zero temperatures (as low as -15 degrees Celsius).
- This will aid in expanding understanding of the Arctic, especially climate change, space weather, sea-ice and ocean circulation dynamics, ecosystem adaptations, etc., which affect weather and climate in the tropics, including monsoons.
- Since 2008, India operates a research base in the Arctic named Himadri, which has been mostly hosting scientists during the summer (April to October).
- The decision to facilitate winter expeditions to the Arctic comes after an in-person review of India’s Arctic activities by Rijiju at Himadri, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard in the Norwegian Arctic, in June 2023.
“Alleviating Heat stress by Enhancing production of Affordable cooling Devices (AHEAD)" Consultation Workshop
- The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry in alliance with the World Bank, with support of the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEFCC), and the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) successfully hosted the “Alleviating Heat stress by Enhancing production of Affordable cooling Devices (AHEAD)” consultation workshop at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.
- This landmark event, drawing over 100 industry and other stakeholders, marks a pivotal step towards fortifying India against intensifying heat waves through sustainable and affordable cooling solutions.
- This was the first ever industry-led workshop that recognized cooling as an important climate adaptation issue.
- The workshop recognized explicitly the need for cost-effective, domestically-led technologies for ensuring affordability that will cater to the large India population that will require cooling.
- The workshop also emphasized India’s commitment to climate mitigation and its goal to emerge as a global leader in sustainable and affordable cooling technologies.
- Sessions delved into manufacturing of space cooling, cold chain technologies, and district cooling systems.
- Key discussions, led by industry experts, policymakers, and academics, centered on leveraging these technologies to address heat stress to ensure public welfare, spur economic growth through domestic manufacturing and reduce carbon emissions.
- World Bank – December 1944 (Founded) – Washington DC (HQ) – Ajay Banga (President)
- Ministry of Commerce and Industry – Piyush Goyal,Cabinet Minister (Rajya Sabha MP,Maharashtra) – Anupriya Patel, Minister of State (Mirzapur,UP), Som Parkash, Minister of State (Hoshiarpur,Punjab)
State News
Prime Minister lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- The Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation multiple development projects worth over ₹ 19,150 crores in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
- The projects include the inauguration of New Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Nagar-New Bhaupur Dedicated Freight Corridor Project built at a cost of around ₹ 10,900 crore among other railway projects. He flagged off Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train, Dohrighat-Mau MEMU train and a pair of Long Haul goods trains at the newly inaugurated Dedicated Freight Corridor.
- He also flagged off the 10,000th locomotive made by Banaras Locomotive Works.
- He inaugurated green-field Shivpur-Phulwaria-Lahartara road along with two ROBs at a cost of more than ₹ 370 crores.
- Other key projects being inaugurated by the Prime Minister include the strengthening and widening of 20 roads; Sangam Ghat road in Kaithi village and the construction of residential buildings in Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital, two 200 and 150-bed multi-storey barrack buildings in Police line and PAC Bhullanpur, smart bus shelters built at 9 locations and 132 KW substation built at Alaipur.
- He also launched the Unified Tourist Pass System under the Smart City Mission.
- The Prime Minister laid the foundation stone of various projects worth more than ₹ 6500 crores including an 800 MW solar park in Chitrakoot district at a cost of around ₹ 4000 crores, new petroleum oil terminal at Mirzapur to be built at a cost of over ₹ 1050 crores, widening of Varanasi-Bhadohi NH 731 B (Package-2) at a cost of over ₹ 900 crores; 69 rural drinking water schemes under Jal Jeevan Mission at a cost of ₹ 280 crores and various other health sector projects.
- Uttar Pradesh – Lucknow (Capital) – Yogi Adityanath (CM) – Anandiben Patel (Governor) – Hindi (Language)
Schemes
Dr YSR Aarogyasri Scheme
- Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has formally launched an enhanced YSR Aarogyasri a scheme to provide free healthcare to the poor with additional benefits and new features.
- the revamped scheme will now provide free treatment costing up to ₹25 lakh while expanding the coverage to about 25 crore people in the state under the purview of Aarogyasri.
- The treatment under the scheme is now being provided in 2,513 hospitals across the state.
- The distribution of Smart Aarogyasri Cards with new features has also commenced.
- A supplementary scheme, Aarogya Aasara, is also being implemented to assist ₹5,000 per month.
- Over 25 to 27 lakh are also covered under Arogua Asara and over ₹1,300 crore has been spent on the scheme so far.
- About 105 types of medicines are being distributed from village health clinics in the state, which are also offering 14 types of diagnostic tests.
- Andhra Pradesh – Visakhapatnam (Capital) – Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy (CM) – S. Abdul Nazeer (Governor) – Telugu (Language)
Banking and Finance
India and ADB signs pacts for $500-mln loans to bolster infra sector
- India signed agreements with the Asian Development Bank for two loans of $250 million each essentially for the country’s infrastructure sector.
- One of the ADB loans is for a project that supports India’s National Industrial Corridor Development programme and the other will part-finance the construction of the 82-kilometer Delhi-Meerut Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor, according to the statements by the multilateral institution.
- The pacts were signed by Juhi Mukherjee, joint secretary in the finance ministry and Hoe Yun Jeong, deputy country director at ADB.
- Earlier, ADB had approved a $1.049 billion Multi-tranche Financing Facility (MFF) to support the construction of RRTS.
- The project will help the RRTS improve urban mobility, and women and the differently abled will benefit from its economic impact.
- Asian Development Bank (ADB) – 19/12/1966 (Founded) – Mandaluyong, Philippines (HQ) – Masatsugu Asakawa (President) – 49 countries (Regional members) & 19 countries (non-regional members)
UPI transactions grew from ₹ 1 lakh crore in FY 2017-18 to ₹ 139 lakh crore in FY 2022-23 in value
- Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions have grown from 92 crore in FY 2017-18 to 8,375 crore in FY 2022-23 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 147% in terms of volume.
- Similarly, the value of UPI transactions has grown from ₹ 1 lakh crore in FY 2017-18 to ₹ 139 lakh crore in FY 2022-23 at a CAGR of 168%.
- UPI has achieved 8,572 crore transactions during current financial year till 11th December, 2023.
- UPI has been the major driving force in the overall growth of digital payment transactions in the country accounting for 62% of digital payment transactions in FY 2022-23.
- The Year-on-Year growth in the value of bank notes in circulation has decreased from 9% in FY 2021-22 to 7.8% in FY 2022-23.
PayCraft partnered with NSDL Payments Bank and NPCI to launch Corporate Transit Card
- Mumbai-based fintech firm Paycraft has partnered with NSDL Payments Bank and the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) for the launch of One Nation Corporate Card.
- This card serves as an employee tax benefit instrument and also comes with a corporate expense management platform for the employer to manage their expenses digitally.
- The card is built on an indigenously developed multi-wallet platform with transit issuance and processing capability.
- The USP of the One Nation Corporate Card is its ability to function as a national transit Card, enabling cardholders to travel throughout India on any public transport that accepts bank-issued cards.
- Built on National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) Specifications with offline enabled, these cards aims to advance the Government of India’s vision of One Nation One Card.
- This Card also offers a solution for digitising business expenses for corporates and SMEs across the country.
- National Payments Corporation of India – 2008 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Dilip Asbe (MD & CEO)
RBI imposed monetary penalties worth ₹ 40 crore on 211 entities in 2022-23
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) imposed monetary penalties worth ₹ 40.29 crores on 211 banks and other entities.
- Out of 211, 176 penalties worth ₹ 14.04 crores alone were imposed on cooperative banks.
- 11 penalties were imposed on non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and seven on private sector banks and public sector banks each.
- The total penalties on NBFCs amounted to ₹ 11 crores.
- On private banks and public banks, the penalties amounted to ₹ 12.17 crores and ₹ 3.65 crores, respectively.
- Five penalties worth ₹ 4.65 crores were imposed on foreign banks.
- Two penalties each were imposed on small finance banks (₹ 0.97 crores) and housing finance companies (₹ 0.10 crores).
- One penalty of ₹ 0.42 crores was imposed on a regional rural bank.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) – 01/04/1935 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Shaktikanta Das (Governor)
Business and Economy
ICRA revises India’s FY24 GDP growth projection
- ICRA has revised its forecast for India’s FY2024 GDP growth to 5 per cent from 6.2 per cent.
- Despite the upward revision, ICRA’s GDP growth projection remains lower than the monetary policy committee’s revised forecast of 7 per cent for FY24.
- ICRA Limited (ICRA) – 1991 (Founded) – Gurgaon, Haryana (HQ) – Ramnath Krishnan (Managing Director & CEO)
India's inward remittances in 2023 rise 12.3% to $125 billion: World Bank
- The inward remittances to India in 2023 rose 3 per cent to $125 billion, accounting for 3.4 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), according to estimates released by the World Bank.
- In 2022, India’s inward remittances stood at $111.22 billion.
- In 2023, India’s inward remittance is expected to beat the previous estimates by $14 billion.
- India continues to be the highest recipient of remittances globally, followed by Mexico ($67 billion) and China ($50 billion).
- The high receipts by India also pushed inward remittances to South Asia.
- According to the data, the growth of remittances was highest in Latin America and the Caribbean (8 per cent), followed by South Asia (7.2 per cent) and East Asia and the Pacific (3 per cent).
- India currently accounts for 66 per cent of all remittances to South Asia, higher than 63 per cent in 2022.
Agreements and MoUs signed
NSDC signed MoU with Saudi Arabia to protect rights of Indian skilled labourers
- The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the government of Saudi Arabia to protect the rights of skilled labourers from India.
- Skilled labourers in India can register themselves at NSDC after which we will come to know where they are going, for which work and with whom they will be working.
- The registration process will be free of cost, he said, adding that skilled labourers from all categories, including AC mechanics, and car painters, can register themselves on NSDC.
- National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) – 31/07/2008 (Founded) – New Delhi (HQ) – Mr. Ved Mani Tewari (CEO)
Summit and Conference
2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference
- The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP28 was the 28th United Nations Climate Change conference, held at Expo City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- DR Sultan Al Jaber, was the COP28 President.
- The first UN climate agreement in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The 27th United Nations Climate Change conference, held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
- United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – May 09 1992 (Drafted) & March 21 1994 (Effective) – Bonn, Germany (Secretariat)
Science and Technology
‘Bhashini’ AI Indian Language Tool
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi used an AI-powered Indian language translation tool, Bhashini, during a speech in Uttar Pradesh to provide a translated version in real time.
- Bhashini was developed by the government, with tens of thousands of people in India adding data from their native languages to create open source language datasets upon which others can build tools.
Acquisitions and Mergers
LIC sells 2% stake in Dixon Technologies
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) had decreased from 012 per cent to 3 per cent of the paid-up capital in Dixon Technologies (India) Ltd from 29,97,913 to 17,94,395 equity shares at an average cost of ₹ 5,877.65.
- LIC had recently diluted its shareholding in Hero MotoCorp Ltd from 252 per cent to 9.246 per cent.
- Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) – 01/09/1956 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Siddhartha Mohanty (Chairman)
Appointments
Egypt President
- Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has won a third term with 89.6 percent of the vote in the Arab world’s most populous nation.
- It secures 69-year-old Abdel Fattah al-Sisi his third and, according to the Egyptian constitution, final term in office, starting in April and set to run for six years.
- In both 2014 and 2018, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi won over 96 percent of the vote.
- Egypt – Cairo (Capital) – Egyptian pound (Currency) – Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (President) – Moustafa Madbouly (Prime Minister) – Arabic (Language)
Additional and independent director of Kotak Mahindra Bank
- The Board of Directors of Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited appointed Eli Leenaars as an additional director and an independent director of the bank for a period of four years, with effect from January 1, 2024.
- With over 35 years of extensive experience in the financial services sector, Leenaars has experience in managing businesses through a wide range of matters, including mergers and acquisitions, complex corporate restructurings, strategic initiatives, and challenging financial environments.
- Kotak Mahindra Bank – 21/11/1985 (Founded) – Mumbai (HQ) – Dipak Gupta (MD & CEO) – “Let’s Make Money Simple” (Tagline)
Ranks and Indices
UK's Top 50 Asian Celebrities In The World
- Top 50 Asian Celebrities in the World list was published by the UK’s weekly Eastern Eye.
- Shah Rukh Khan had added yet another feather to his cap as he became the number 1 star on the list.
- Following him, Alia Bhatt bagged the second spot, while Priyanka Chopra was in the third spot.
Hyderabad ranked 1st in food adulteration cases: NCRB
- Hyderabad has ranked first in the country for food adulteration cases, according to the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
- Telangana stands second, closely followed by Andhra Pradesh.
- In 2022, a total of 291 cases of food adulteration were reported across 19 major cities in India.
- Food adulteration is a critical concern posing substantial risks to public health.
- Contaminated food items can lead to severe health consequences, including foodborne illnesses, allergies, and even death.
- However, the statistics show that the offences include accused but they do not comprise of any minors connected with the cases or working in the adulteration units in respected areas.
- National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) – 11/03/1986 (Founded) – Delhi (HQ) – Vivek Gogia (Director)
Awards and Recognitions
Indian Armed Forces Officers Awarded 'Golden Owl' for Outstanding Performance at DSCSC Sri Lanka
- All three Indian Armed Forces officers undergoing the Command and Staff Course at Defence Services Command and Staff College (DSCSC) in Sri Lanka have been awarded the ‘Golden Owl’ for their outstanding performance.
- The DSCSC course is a program designed to prepare senior officers for leadership roles in joint operations and higher command.
- Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe handed over the award to Wing Commander Sumeet Mahajan, Major Rohit and Lieutenant Commander Sunny Sharma, as per the Indian High Commission in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
- The three officers ranked first amongst the foreign student officers in the Air Force, Army and Navy wings
- The “Golden Owl” award admires analytical skills, strategic thinking, and potential for future leadership.
- Sri Lanka – Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte (legislative) Colombo (executive and judicial) (Capital) – Sri Lankan rupee (Currency) – Ranil Wickremesinghe (President) – Dinesh Gunawardena (Prime Minister) – Sinhala & Tamil (Language)
Sports News
Khelo India Para Games 2023
- The 1st edition of Khelo India Para Games 2023 was organized across 3 venues in the city of Delhi across 7 sports Disciplines (Para Archery, Par Athletics, Para Badminton, Para Table Tennis, Para Powerlifting, CP Football, Para Shooting) with the approximate participation of 1500 athletes, 200 Technical Officials, 150 Volunteers, 350 Support Staff, 300 escorts & 20 classifiers from 36 States and UTs.
Rank
State
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Total
1
Haryana
40
39
26
105
2
Uttar Pradesh
25
23
14
62
3
Tamil Nadu
20
8
14
42
4
Gujarat
15
22
20
57
5
Maharashtra
12
7
16
35
2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy
- Haryana won the Vijay Hazare Trophy 2023 title by defeating Rajasthan by 30 runs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot.
- Haryana’s Sumit Kumar was chosen player of the match.
- The tournament consisted of 38 teams, divided into five groups held in six cities.
- Vijay Hazare Trophy is known as Ranji One Day Trophy.
- This tournament started as a limited overs tournament in the year 2002-03.
- In 2007, it was renamed in honour of the famous Indian cricketer Vijay Hazare.
- This competition is organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
- Most Successful Team – Tamil Nadu (5 titles).
- Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) – December 1928 (Founded) – Wankhede Stadium,Mumbai (HQ) – Roger Binny (President) – Hemang Amin (CEO)
Important Days
International Migrants Day 2023
- International Migrants Day is annually observed on December 18.
- The day is observed to recognise the contributions of migrants and highlight the challenges they face.
- On 4 December 2000, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) proclaimed December 18 as International Migrants Day.
- In 1990, UNGA adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.
- Theme – Act Today
Minorities Rights Day 2023
- Minorities Rights Day is annually observed on December 18 in India.
- The day aims to protect the rights of the minority communities and serves as a reminder of the commitment to protecting the rights of religious, ethnic, racial, and linguistic minorities of the country.
- The day aligns with the adoption of the UN Declaration on December 18, 1992.
- Theme – ‘Celebrating Diversity and Inclusion’
Goa Liberation Day 2023
- Goa Liberation Day is annually observed on December 19.
- Goa, Daman and Diu Liberation Day observed with great pomp and enthusiasm on December 19.
- On this day in 1961, the Indian Army captured Goa, which had been under Portuguese rule for some 451 years Goa was also somewhat influenced by the Indian independence movement of the 19th century, though not significantly.
Daily Current Affairs - December 18 & 19, 2023 - Consolidated
- “Animal Health Conclave “(Pashu Swasthya Sammelan) in New Delhi
- India’s maiden winter scientific Arctic expedition
- “Alleviating Heat stress by Enhancing production of Affordable cooling Devices (AHEAD)” Consultation Workshop
- Prime Minister lays foundation stone and dedicates to nation multiple development projects in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Dr YSR Aarogyasri Scheme
- India and ADB signs pacts for $500-mln loans to bolster infra sector
- UPI transactions grew from ₹ 1 lakh crore in FY 2017-18 to ₹ 139 lakh crore in FY 2022-23 in value
- PayCraft partnered with NSDL Payments Bank and NPCI to launch Corporate Transit Card
- RBI imposed monetary penalties worth ₹ 40 crore on 211 entities in 2022-23
- ICRA revises India’s FY24 GDP growth projection
- India’s inward remittances in 2023 rise 12.3% to $125 billion: World Bank
- NSDC signed MoU with Saudi Arabia to protect rights of Indian skilled labourers
- 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference
- ‘Bhashini’ AI Indian Language Tool
- LIC sells 2% stake in Dixon Technologies
- Egypt President
- Additional and independent director of Kotak Mahindra Bank
- UK’s Top 50 Asian Celebrities In The World
- Hyderabad ranked 1st in food adulteration cases: NCRB
- Indian Armed Forces Officers Awarded ‘Golden Owl’ for Outstanding Performance at DSCSC Sri Lanka
- Khelo India Para Games 2023
- 2023-24 Vijay Hazare Trophy
- International Migrants Day 2023
- Minorities Rights Day 2023
- Goa Liberation Day 2023
Do you wish to crack Banking Exams in 2023 ? - Register Now
Take your first step to your DREAM GOVERNMENT JOB
Enquire for Next Batch.